It's amazing what technology can do to keep people closer together. It's 415 am ET and I am up watching my sister receive her college diploma and honorable mention award live at the graduation rites of Ateneo. (Go Doyti, we're all proud of you! Congratulations!) Our baby sister has finished college already! And to my dad, she will always be 18 years old.
I was awoken by my siblings in the middle of my deep slumber at 245am and was asked to go online to watch the graduation webcast. As in any commencement exercise, the first few speeches were long, yet inspiring. Manny Pangilinan, PLDT boss and Ateneo fellow, shared a poignant story about his experiences coming from humble beginnings. He ended saying "... I was born poor, but poor is not born in me... you can make it... you must not disappoint." The speech was very long - that I ended up doing my maths and some multiple regression models for tomorrow's class.
Just watching through my computer made me a little nostalgic about my own graduation 4 years ago. It also felt different listening to plenty of Tagalog for the most part of the program. And of course, I heard very strong Filipino-English accents all throughout - which is refreshing and heartwarming at the same time. Not something I hear everyday.
I look forward to marching on my own commencement program for the 4th time in my life in the Spring of next year, and I am very excited and hopeful. And hopefully there needn't be technology involved for my whole family to see me bow on stage. And no more early morning wake up calls.
P.S. Up until this day, I wonder when Ateneans will stop calling their school "THE" Ateneo? Is it hubris? How come Harvardites or Yalies don't call their school THE Harvard or THE Yale. Or perhaps they should start?
Friday, March 24, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A Quick Walk Home
Since I feel I've been lacking exercise, I decided to walk home from work today. The whole time I was listening to music in my iPod and then without an effort, the walk became extra interesting. Heading east from the Rockefeller Center, I saw different things on my way home. Things such as the following:
1. Three disabled people in wheelchairs lining up to get on a city bus
2. A 20ct perfect round diamond from the diamond district
3. A man in an expensive-looking suit... rollerblading on 5th Ave.
4. The Philippine flag at the consulate
5. $1 book sale near Park Ave.
6. Two spiffy men holding hands
7. A policeman patroling on a big, black horse
8. A homeless man asking for change
9. The Waldorf Astoria
10. A big guy walking a tiny chihuahua
1. Three disabled people in wheelchairs lining up to get on a city bus
2. A 20ct perfect round diamond from the diamond district
3. A man in an expensive-looking suit... rollerblading on 5th Ave.
4. The Philippine flag at the consulate
5. $1 book sale near Park Ave.
6. Two spiffy men holding hands
7. A policeman patroling on a big, black horse
8. A homeless man asking for change
9. The Waldorf Astoria
10. A big guy walking a tiny chihuahua
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Election Results
I had just gotten up this morning and found an email in my inbox - I won the Presidential elections! :) I guess this deserves a week-long celebration of mojitos and other wonderful things.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
P for President
So I ran for President for my graduate program's student organization, and being the apolitical person that I am, there was no intense politicking in my team. Neither did the other team. I ran against one of my classmates - a white guy who is a part-time student, smart and charming. And no matter how my loyal friends reassure me that there is no competition whatsoever, there are always no guarantees.
I had been in the program for three semesters and my personal campaign was based on just how people had seen me work in the past. My team did have campaign materials - but it's not as overbearing as back in my SEB days in college. We did have a cheesy platform based on the popular marketing acronym: AIDA - Attention, Interest, Desire, Action - but I still wonder if it's the platform or our warm smiles that would sell us. I think in graduate school, you rely more on word of mouth and popularity than anything else.
Don't get me wrong, I am really not political at all - I just have a vision for my program and for the students in my program. I just want some change done, that's all. And I am crossing my fingers that my reputation - whether positive or negative - will sell well.
Today was the last day that votes were casted - so in about 12 hours, the winners will be announced. We had a social after class tonight, and I still could not get over how all-over-the-place my speech went. (I hate impromptu speeches) But we'll see if that had any bearing on the final vote count.
F*ck that.
And so, the countdown begins...
I had been in the program for three semesters and my personal campaign was based on just how people had seen me work in the past. My team did have campaign materials - but it's not as overbearing as back in my SEB days in college. We did have a cheesy platform based on the popular marketing acronym: AIDA - Attention, Interest, Desire, Action - but I still wonder if it's the platform or our warm smiles that would sell us. I think in graduate school, you rely more on word of mouth and popularity than anything else.
Don't get me wrong, I am really not political at all - I just have a vision for my program and for the students in my program. I just want some change done, that's all. And I am crossing my fingers that my reputation - whether positive or negative - will sell well.
Today was the last day that votes were casted - so in about 12 hours, the winners will be announced. We had a social after class tonight, and I still could not get over how all-over-the-place my speech went. (I hate impromptu speeches) But we'll see if that had any bearing on the final vote count.
F*ck that.
And so, the countdown begins...
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Lunch Culture And More
I had complained a little while back that I was being underutilized at Time Inc., but now my coworkers are definitely getting my hands full as much as they could. I actually prefer it this way, because that means that they have a certain level of expectation of what I can deliver for them. And these are very hardworking, smart people who say intelligent things and make intelligent decisions. Do you know that feeling of pressure being around intelligent people? You just can't allow yourself to screw up. Ergo, you work extra harder... and pretend you blend in. Haha!
I have only been with People Consumer Marketing for a couple of weeks, but I kind of get the culture of this side of the business already.
These people have lunches.
I like this lunch culture thing. The way it works is that, since everybody is friendly and approachable and social, but extremely busy, they take the time to ask everyone else for "lunch"- a very important time to network and talk about more personal things. As ironic as it sounds, lunches can tend to become appointments - but equally important as any other office meeting. Hence the overusage of the "Make Appointment" Outlook feature.
I believe the food in the building helps cultivate this lunch culture thing somehow. Time Inc. has a fantastic cafeteria. They have a very wide variety of cuisines prepared fresh as you order. I had South African food last week, and Pan-Asian today. I also can never get enough of their freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, I have it everyday. And it's relatively cheap.
Best of all, lunchtime is strictly for lunch - not doing work (unless it's a work lunch, obviously). Most people will make you get out of your cube to grab lunch - because it is important and you deserve it.
The 5 o'clock deadline.
Having worked in advertising and promotions in the past, leaving at exactly 5pm is very much frowned upon. The 9 to 5 cliche is not really 9 to 5. It's 9 to whenever your boss leaves the office or after. Which can be as late as after dinner.
In Time Inc., people work as efficient as they can to finish everything by 5. Okay, 5:45 tops (give or take all the chitchatting in between work hours). But then, if you leave at 5pm, they will not roll their eyes and whisper "What a lazy underachiever." to themselves. Instead, they will say "I'll see you tomorrow!" with a smile. Knowing that you are responsible enough to finish what you need to do for the day.
A culture of growth and respect.
Not only does the company provide avenues for self-expression for different races, they also make sure they can contribute to the development of your well-being - be it as a student, a parent, or a person in general - straight, bi or gay.
They have plenty of noteworthy tutorial programs that employees can freely attend. They have a playroom for the kids to hang out all day (perhaps for single or hands-on parents) and a library and a book shop with discounted items. They celebrate cultural diversity through events, walkathons and promotions in and outdoor. They are understanding of their employees who are pursuing graduate school (and would even pay for part of their tuition fees). And my favorite, they serve everyone free snacks at 3pm everyday.
From the biggest scenarios to the littlest of details, to me, the company had done a great job in making their people function and grow the best way they can.
I can't say yet that my division is the coolest ever, or Time Inc. is THE ideal "big" company to work for. Hmm... I still kinda miss some things about working in a smaller one - like the past couple of companies I've worked with. I like to have structure, but please ditch the red tape. The "global" feel is enticing, but you still feel "local" working within a small group or department. It's the big fish in a small pond vs. small fish in a big pond kind of argument.
I don't know, I am just impressed with the culture of this company. And regardless if this company is as big as it is, or as tiny as a 10-man team, I would still blog about it because it got the good side of me.
I have only been with People Consumer Marketing for a couple of weeks, but I kind of get the culture of this side of the business already.
These people have lunches.
I like this lunch culture thing. The way it works is that, since everybody is friendly and approachable and social, but extremely busy, they take the time to ask everyone else for "lunch"- a very important time to network and talk about more personal things. As ironic as it sounds, lunches can tend to become appointments - but equally important as any other office meeting. Hence the overusage of the "Make Appointment" Outlook feature.
I believe the food in the building helps cultivate this lunch culture thing somehow. Time Inc. has a fantastic cafeteria. They have a very wide variety of cuisines prepared fresh as you order. I had South African food last week, and Pan-Asian today. I also can never get enough of their freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, I have it everyday. And it's relatively cheap.
Best of all, lunchtime is strictly for lunch - not doing work (unless it's a work lunch, obviously). Most people will make you get out of your cube to grab lunch - because it is important and you deserve it.
The 5 o'clock deadline.
Having worked in advertising and promotions in the past, leaving at exactly 5pm is very much frowned upon. The 9 to 5 cliche is not really 9 to 5. It's 9 to whenever your boss leaves the office or after. Which can be as late as after dinner.
In Time Inc., people work as efficient as they can to finish everything by 5. Okay, 5:45 tops (give or take all the chitchatting in between work hours). But then, if you leave at 5pm, they will not roll their eyes and whisper "What a lazy underachiever." to themselves. Instead, they will say "I'll see you tomorrow!" with a smile. Knowing that you are responsible enough to finish what you need to do for the day.
A culture of growth and respect.
Not only does the company provide avenues for self-expression for different races, they also make sure they can contribute to the development of your well-being - be it as a student, a parent, or a person in general - straight, bi or gay.
They have plenty of noteworthy tutorial programs that employees can freely attend. They have a playroom for the kids to hang out all day (perhaps for single or hands-on parents) and a library and a book shop with discounted items. They celebrate cultural diversity through events, walkathons and promotions in and outdoor. They are understanding of their employees who are pursuing graduate school (and would even pay for part of their tuition fees). And my favorite, they serve everyone free snacks at 3pm everyday.
From the biggest scenarios to the littlest of details, to me, the company had done a great job in making their people function and grow the best way they can.
I can't say yet that my division is the coolest ever, or Time Inc. is THE ideal "big" company to work for. Hmm... I still kinda miss some things about working in a smaller one - like the past couple of companies I've worked with. I like to have structure, but please ditch the red tape. The "global" feel is enticing, but you still feel "local" working within a small group or department. It's the big fish in a small pond vs. small fish in a big pond kind of argument.
I don't know, I am just impressed with the culture of this company. And regardless if this company is as big as it is, or as tiny as a 10-man team, I would still blog about it because it got the good side of me.
Randomness
Every event has at least two sides, two effects and two endings. Choose which one is yours. Black or white. Yes or No. Dead or Alive. But some people still dare ask why can't there be only just one? You just want to nudge them until they wake up from their idealist eyes. These people have to learn to live away from this perfect world they had long so imagined, but never had.
***
Pet peeve #10: Superficial success metrics. Definition: when you start boasting about your superficial pots of gold, like it deserves to be on top of your resume and unknowingly emphasizing your lack of a brain.
Pet peeve #10: Superficial success metrics. Definition: when you start boasting about your superficial pots of gold, like it deserves to be on top of your resume and unknowingly emphasizing your lack of a brain.
***
Reese Witherspoon truly deserved the Best Actress Oscar. And Ryan Philippe deserves to receive the Best Ever Supportive Husband Award. The kind of marriage to emanate. I hope they never fall into that Hollywood divorce trap.
Reese Witherspoon truly deserved the Best Actress Oscar. And Ryan Philippe deserves to receive the Best Ever Supportive Husband Award. The kind of marriage to emanate. I hope they never fall into that Hollywood divorce trap.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Inhaling Vicks And Eating Chinese
That is what I am up to right now. Tucked inside my warm duvet, while watching E! and trying to get well. After trying to push myself too hard all week with crazy meetings, work, school, gym etc., finally my body couldn't take any more. I had to cancel a girl's day out today because I had lost my voice from severe coughing and cold. I have to learn to stop trying to kill myself.
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